This is mainly a compilation of the visits to various holy places that we have been to recently. This blog started as a result of my wish to document these visits and help other like minded people to reach there easily, prepare them with some information about the place so that the experience will be enriched .

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Sri Agastheeswarar temple- Ponneri

This is also an ancient temple built in the Gajaprushti type .There is a golden plough carved inside which shows the name of the place as Pon eri (Golden plough)How to reach:On the Kolkatta highway from Chennai after 35 kms you will come to the Thacchur koot road after the karanodai bridge. take a right enter ponneri, Proceed into the harihara bazaar street and before you come to the railway underpass you will see the road to the temple on the right. proceed for a few metres and you will see the temple.
Legend of the temple:
The temple was the place where Agasthya did penance and was relieved of his stomach ache here..The ancient name of this place is Kumbamuni Mangalam. Sage Agasthiar is also known as Kumbamuni, as he once collected the whole of river Cauvery into his holy pot (Kamandalam)
The mandapam in front of the temple and the agasthiyar theertham
View of the temple
There is a pilliar shrine seen on the left in the snap above we prayed there and entered the rajagopuram. The main shrine beckoned us in front with the nandi and the Kodimaram seen on the right. All the gods here face the east and are prayed to by the sun who graces them in the month of chithirai ( April-May)
The pillars of the front hall having anjeneya and ganesha
The main sanctum has a huge sivalingam facing the east. The Vimanam is of the gajaprushti type with a carving of a golden plough as seen here
The koshta vigrahas are all enshrined in their niches, Ganesha, Guru,Lingothbhavar,Durgai, Brahmaetc., thereis also a bhairavar and a suryan inside the praharam
Shiva suryan
Murugan on the left of the main praharam

Ambal sannidhi to the left of the main sannidhi facing east is found inside themain praharam itself
The outer walls of the temples are painted over with thevarams and other hymns
The sarakondrai plant in full bloom was a nice sight next to the navagraha sannidhi